CHECKOUT SYSTEM AND PORTABLE POINT-OF-SALE TERMINAL
A wireless checkout system includes peripheral stations, a server that stores location information indicating a position coordinate of each of the peripheral stations, one or more base stations, and a mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The mobile POS terminal includes a wireless communication interface configured to receive a wireless signal from the base stations, a display, and a processor. The processor designates one of the peripheral stations as an associated peripheral station, determines a position coordinate of the mobile POS terminal based on the wireless signal, selects, based on the determined position coordinate of the mobile POS terminal and the location information, another of peripheral stations that is closest to the mobile POS terminal to be an alternative peripheral station to be recommended for the checkout, when the associated peripheral station is not available, and then controls the display to display a screen indicating the alternative peripheral station.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/921,413, filed on Jul. 6, 2020, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-171935, filed on Sep. 20, 2019, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDEmbodiments described herein relate generally to a checkout system for a retail store or the like and a portable point-of-sale (POS) terminal that can be used in the checkout system or otherwise.
BACKGROUNDA point-of-sale (POS) register application can be installed in an information processing device, such as a general-purpose tablet PC (Personal Computer), to permit the information processing device to be used as a portable POS terminal. The portable POS terminal can be wirelessly connected to a network provided in a store to use various, peripheral devices such as a receipt printer, an automatic coin change machine, or a scanner (e.g., a bar code scanner) connected to the network.
If one of the peripheral device is out of order in such a checkout system of this type, a reference proposes a technique for enabling an external information processing terminal to provide information indicating an operation state of the peripheral device(s).
However, there is the problem of keeping customers waiting if the peripheral device is out of order. In particular, the receipt printer often experiences failures because the receipt printer includes a mechanical paper conveying system that is more likely to fail with use. As a result, customers ready for checkout are frequently kept waiting until the receipt printer is repaired. Failures of other peripheral devices are also possible. For example, other peripheral devices including driving systems are more likely to break than peripheral devices that do not include driving systems. In addition to such failures, the peripheral devices may become unusable because of troubles such as a network failures or the like.
One or more embodiments are directed to providing a wireless checkout system and a portable POS terminal used in the system (and a control program for causing a computer to function as such a portable POS terminal) that can reduce a waiting time of a customer if a peripheral device normally available in the system is in an unusable state.
In general, according to an embodiment, a wireless checkout system includes a plurality of peripheral stations located in a store area, a server that stores location information indicating a position coordinate of each of the peripheral stations in the store area, one or more base stations having a wireless communication range covering the store area, and a mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The mobile POS terminal includes a wireless communication interface configured to receive a wireless signal from at least one of the one or more base stations, a display, and a processor. The processor is configured to designate one of the plurality of peripheral stations as an associated peripheral station to be communicated with for checkout by the mobile POS terminal, determine a position coordinate of the mobile POS terminal based on the wireless signal received by the wireless communication interface, obtain the location information, selected, based on the position coordinate of the mobile POS terminal and the location information, a closest one of the plurality of peripheral stations to the mobile POS terminal, other than the associated peripheral station, to be an alternative peripheral station to be recommended for checkout, if the associated peripheral station is not available. The processor then controls the display to display a screen indicating the alternative peripheral station.
A checkout system and a portable POS terminal used in this system according to an embodiment that can reduce a waiting time of a customer if a peripheral device that the portable POS terminal attempts to communicate with is in an unusable state are explained with reference to the drawings.
The server 10 is a store server for, for example, collecting data of commodities registered by the tablets 70 and managing sales, stocks, and the like of the entire store. The automatic coin change machine 20 includes a depositing port and a dispensing port for cash. The automatic coin change machine 20 counts, for each of denominations, the number of coins or bills deposited from the deposit port to calculate a deposit amount and transmits data of the deposit amount to the tablet 70. The automatic coin change machine 20 dispenses cash equivalent to coin from the dispensing port based on coin data received from the tablet 70. Various keys for auxiliary input for the tablet 70 are disposed on the keyboard 30. The receipt printer 40 prints a receipt. The card settlement terminal 50 is a terminal for performing payment by a credit card or an electronic money medium. The ticket printer 60 prints a ticket such as a discount ticket.
The tablet 70 has at least the following first to fourth functions. The first function is a function of registering sales data of commodities purchased by a customer. The second function is a function of generating payment data based on the registered commodity sales data. The third function is a function of receiving price payment from a customer based on the generated payment data and settling a commercial transaction with the customer. The fourth function is a function of generating a printing job for a receipt indicating details of the commercial transaction and wirelessly transmitting the printing job to the receipt printer 40.
The checkout system further includes position measurement tags (abbreviated as TG in
The position measurement tags 80 and the stationary base stations 90 are connected to the network NW and function as measurement devices that measure position coordinates of the respective peripheral devices in the store. The stationary base stations 90 transmits BLE (Blue Tooth® Low Energy) waves or UWB (Ultra Wide Band) waves. The position measurement tags 80 receive the BLE waves or the UWB waves. Position coordinates of the position measurement tags 80, that is, position coordinates of peripheral devices to which the position measurement tags 80 are attached can be measured based on incident angles and arrival times of the BLE waves or the UWB waves. Alternatively, the position measurement tags 80 transmit BLE waves or UWB waves and the stationary base stations 90 receive the BLE waves or UWB waves. Position of the position measurement tags 80 can be measured based on incident angles and arrival times of the BLE waves or the UWB waves at the stationary base stations 90. For example, in in
The processor 11 controls the units in order to perform various functions according to an operating system or application programs (software programs). The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory region and a volatile memory region. The main memory 12 stores the operating system or the application programs in the nonvolatile memory region. The main memory 12 can store, in the nonvolatile or volatile memory region, data necessary for the processor 11 to execute processing for controlling the units. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memory region as a work area in which data is rewritten as appropriate by the processor 11. The nonvolatile memory region is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory). The volatile memory region is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). In this embodiment, a position table 121, which stores position coordinates of the peripheral devices, is in the volatile memory region of the main memory 12.
For example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive) can be the auxiliary storage device 13. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores data used by the processor 11 in performing various kinds of processing, data created by processing in the processor 11, and the like. The auxiliary storage device 13 sometimes stores the application programs. In the auxiliary storage device 13, a commodity database (DB) 131, a sales database (DB) 132, and the like are provided. The commodity database 131 stores, for each of commodities sold in the store, commodity records in which various commodity data and information are described. The commodity record includes a commodity code (may also be referred to as a product code), a price, and a commodity name. The commodity code is an identification code of a corresponding commodity. The sales database 132 stores sales records in which sales data (transaction records) can be provided by such matters/items as a commodity type, a store department, a time period range, a date, a week, or a month. The sales data includes the number of sold items and a sales amount.
The communication interface 14 is connected to the network NW. The communication interface 14 performs, according to a communication protocol, data communication between the communication interface 14 and other devices connected via the network NW.
The timer 15 starts a time tracking operation according to a command from the processor 11. The timer 15 times out if a preset time is reached. A time when the timer 15 times out can be optionally set.
The processor 71 controls the units in order to perform various functions according to an operating system and/or application programs. The processor 71 is, for example, a CPU.
The main memory 72 includes a nonvolatile memory region and a volatile memory region. The main memory 72 stores the operating system or the application programs in the nonvolatile memory region. The main memory 72 sometimes stores, in the nonvolatile or volatile memory region, data necessary for the processor 71 to execute processing for controlling the units. The main memory 72 uses the volatile memory region as a work area in which data is rewritten as appropriate by the processor 71. The nonvolatile memory region is, for example, a ROM. The volatile memory region is, for example, a RAM.
For example, an EEPROM or an SSD can be the auxiliary storage device 73. The auxiliary storage device 73 stores data used by the processor 71 in performing various kinds of processing, data created by processing in the processor 71, and the like. The auxiliary storage device 73 may store the application programs. In this embodiment, the auxiliary storage device 73 stores a POS register application 731 (abbreviated as “POS application” in
The touch panel 74 is a device functioning as both of an input device and a display device of the tablet 70. The touch panel 74 functions as a display. The touch panel 74 detects a touch position for a displayed image and outputs information concerning the touch position to the processor 71. The touch panel 74 displays, for example, names, prices, and total amounts of commodities registered by the tablet 70.
The wireless unit 75 is connected to the network NW via an access point and performs data communication with the server 10 and the peripheral devices. The wireless unit 75 functions as a network interface unit. The wireless unit 75 may be referred to as a wireless communication interface. The wireless unit 75 has a function of transmitting or receiving a BLE wave or a UWB wave and thus can perform substantially the same functions as a position measurement tag 80. The wireless unit 75 further functions as a detecting unit. For example, in the example illustrated in
The sensor group 76 includes a camera, a GPS sensor, a gyro sensor, and the like. The camera can read a code symbol such as a barcode or a two-dimensional data code attached to a commodity. The camera may thus serve as an optical code reader. The speaker 77 outputs warning sound or the like.
The POS register application 731 is an application for causing the processor included in the tablet 70 to function as an acquiring unit, a presenting unit, a setting unit, a designating unit, and a selecting unit. The POS register application 731 can be stored in the auxiliary storage device 73 and accessed by communication performed via a network. The POS register application 731 may be recorded in a removable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a memory card and distributed. In this case, the POS register application 731 can be read from the recording medium by a recording medium reader connected to the tablet 70 or a recording medium reader included in or connected to a personal computer that can communicate with the tablet 70 and can be stored in the auxiliary storage device 73.
The acquiring unit acquires, from the network NW, position coordinates of a respective plurality of peripheral devices, position coordinates of which in the store can be acquired, connected to the network NW. The presenting unit is a unit that, if a first peripheral device is unusable when communication with the first peripheral device is attempted via the network NW, presents, as a use recommended device (may be referred to as an alternative peripheral device or station), a second peripheral device at a position coordinate the shortest distance from the tablet 70 (excepting the first peripheral device). The setting unit sets a peripheral-device-to-be-preferentially-used (preferred peripheral device) among the plurality of peripheral devices. The designating unit designates whether the peripheral-device-to-be-preferentially-used or a peripheral device at the position coordinate the shortest distance from the tale 70 is prioritized. The selecting unit selects, as the first peripheral device, the peripheral device designated by the designating unit. In some examples, the selecting unit may select without reference to the designation by the designating unit, the peripheral-device-to-be-preferentially-used (may be referred to as an associated peripheral device or station). Alternatively, the selecting unit may select, without depending on the setting by the setting unit or the designation by the designating unit, the peripheral device at the position coordinate at the shortest distance from the tablet 70 as the first peripheral device.
In the following explanation, the operation of the checkout system according to the embodiment is specifically explained with reference to the flowcharts of
If the acquisition timing for acquiring a position coordinate of the peripheral device when the timer 15 times out comes, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 11 and the process proceeds to Act 13. In Act 13, the processor 11 acquires position coordinates from the respective peripheral devices, that is, the plurality of automatic coin change machines 20, the plurality of keyboards 30, the plurality of receipt printers 40, the plurality of card settlement terminals 50, and the plurality of ticket printers 60. In Act 14, the processor 11 registers the acquired position coordinates of the peripheral devices in the position table 121 provided in the main memory 12. At this time, the processor 11 causes the timer 15 to start a time tracking operation. Thereafter, the process proceeds to Act 11.
If receiving a transmission request for location information from any tablet 70 via the network NW, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 12 and the process proceeds to Act 15. In Act 15, the processor 11 transmits location information including a position coordinate of the peripheral device of the designated type registered in the position table 121 to the tablet 70 at a request source via the network NW. Thereafter, the process proceeds to Act 11.
In Act 71, the processor 71 of the tablet 70 determines whether processing for priority setting is instructed by operation of the touch panel 74. The processing for priority setting is processing for setting a peripheral device to be preferentially used among the plurality of peripheral devices. For example, the processor 71 determines whether a touch position for a [priority setting] button image displayed on the touch panel 74 is touched or whether a touch position for a corresponding item image is touched from a menu item displayed according to touch on a touch position for a [menu] button image. “Button” discussed above and described hereinafter is an example of a selectable object unless the button is in a non-selectable state, in which case may be referred to as a “non-selectable object”. If the processing for priority setting is not instructed, the processor 71 determines NO in Act 71 and the process proceeds to Act 72. The processor 71 determines whether use of any peripheral device is instructed by operation of the touch panel 74. For example, the processor 71 determines whether a touch position for a button image indicating peripheral device operation content such as a [receipt print] button image displayed on the touch panel 74 is touched or whether a touch position for a corresponding item image is touched from a menu item displayed according to touch on a touch position for the [menu] button image. If use of a peripheral device is not instructed, the processor 71 determines NO in Act 72 and the process proceeds to Act 71.
If the processing for priority setting is instructed, the processor 71 determines YES in Act 71 and the process proceeds to Act 73. In Act 73, the processor 71 performs priority setting processing for setting a peripheral device to be preferentially used. Thereafter, the process proceeds to Act 71.
In the priority setting processing, in Act 731, as illustrated in
In Act 734, as illustrated in
If a touch position for any peripheral device type designation button image 7411 is touched, the processor 71 may cause the touch panel 74 to display a priority designation screen 743 illustrated in
In Act 737, as illustrated in
Priority setting can be performed for each of types of the plurality of peripheral devices.
If it is instructed to use any peripheral device, the processor 71 determines YES in Act 72 and the process proceeds to Act 74. In Act 74, the processor 71 performs device-use processing for using the peripheral device. Thereafter, the process proceeds to Act 71.
In the device-use processing, in Act 741, the processor controls the wireless unit 75 to detect a position coordinate of its own device (that is, the device incorporating the processor 71) in the store. Thereafter, the processor 71 controls the wireless unit 75 to transmit a transmission request for location information including a position coordinate concerning a peripheral device of a type instructed to the server 10 via the network NW. The process proceeds to Act 743 and the processor 71 waits for the position coordinate of the peripheral device from being received from the server 10 by the wireless unit 75.
If the server 10 transmits a position coordinate of a peripheral device of a designated type registered in the position table 121 and the position coordinate of the peripheral device is received by the wireless unit 75, the processor 71 determines YES in Act 743 and the process proceeds to Act 744. In this way, the processor 71 functions as an acquiring unit. In Act 744, the processor 71 calculates distances between itself (its own device location) and peripheral devices based on the its detected position coordinate in the store and position coordinates of the acquired peripheral devices of the designated type. The distances are typically linear distances. However, if a complicated passage is formed by arrangements in the store, a store map may be stored in the auxiliary storage device 73 in advance and a moving distance along a route (that a potentially non-straight line distance) may be calculated in this context. In Act 745, the processor 71 ranks the peripheral devices based on the calculated distances and the priority setting information stored in the priority setting memory 7311. For example, concerning the receipt printer 40, if a receipt printer #2 is designated as a priority device and the priority designation is the designated device, the processor 71 ranks the receipt printer #2 in the first place and ranks the peripheral devices in the second and subsequent places in ascending order of the distances. If the priority designation is the distance, the processor 71 ranks the peripheral device at the shortest distance in the first place and ranks the peripheral devices in the second and subsequent places in ascending order of the distances. If a type of a peripheral device designated to be used is a type for which priority setting information is not stored in the priority setting memory 7311, the processor 71 performs ranking based on the distances. The processor 71 selects the peripheral device in the first place as a first peripheral device attempted to be communicated with. In this way, the processor 71 functions as a selecting unit. Thereafter, the process proceeds to Act 746.
In Act 746, the processor 71 executes a procedure for using the peripheral device ranked in the first place. For example, the processor 71 generates a print job for a receipt and controls the wireless unit 75 to transmit the print job to the receipt printer #2 in the first place. Thereafter, the process proceeds to Act 747. In Act 747, the processor 71 determines whether the procedure normally ends. A response signal indicating the normal end is returned from the receipt printer 40 that successfully normally executes the print job. A response signal indicating an abnormal end is returned from the receipt printer 40 that does not successfully normally execute the print job. If receiving the response signal indicating the normal end within a predetermined time, the processor 71 determines that the print job normally ends. If receiving the response signal indicating the abnormal end within the predetermined time or if not successfully receiving the response signal indicating the normal end or the abnormal end within the predetermined time, the processor 71 determines that the print job does not normally end. The predetermined time is determined based on a normal processing time statistically requested for each of the types of the peripheral devices. For example, the predetermined time is approximately three seconds for the receipt printer 40.
If the use of the peripheral device normally ends, the processor 71 determines YES in Act 747 and the process returns to Act 71 in
If the use of the peripheral device does not normally end, the processor 71 determines NO in Act 747 and the process proceeds to Act 748. In Act 748, the processor 71 causes the touch panel 74 to display a guidance screen 745 as illustrated in
The guidance screen 745 includes, as illustrated in
In Act 7410, the processor 71 determines whether the touch position for the standby button image 7454 is touched. If the touch position for the standby button image 7454 is touched, the processor 71 determines YES in Act 7410, and the process returns to Act 746, where the processor 71 attempts to communicate with the preferentially designated peripheral device again. Retry may be prevented from being repeated many times by restricting the standby button image 7454 to be displayed only a predetermined number of times such as twice.
If the touch position for the standby button image 7454 is not touched, the processor 71 determines NO in Act 7410 and the process proceeds to Act 7411. In Act 7411, the processor 71 determines whether the touch position for the designation button image 7453 is touched. If the touch position for the designation button image 7453 is not touched, that is, the touch position for the recommendation button image 7452 is touched, the processor 71 determines NO in Act 7411 and the process proceeds to Act 7412. In Act 7412, the processor 71 changes the peripheral device to be used to the recommended peripheral device in this case. The process returns to Act 746 and the processor 71 attempts to communicate with the peripheral device changed from the peripheral device to be used.
If the touch position for the designation button image 7453 is touched, the processor 71 determines YES in Act 7411 and the process proceeds to Act 7413. In Act 7413, the processor 71 causes the touch panel 74 to display a selection screen 746 as illustrated in
In this way, according to this embodiment, if communication with the first peripheral device is attempted in the tablet 70 and the first peripheral device is unusable, the second peripheral device present in a position coordinate at the shortest distance from the tablet 70 except the first peripheral device is presented as the use recommended device. Accordingly, it is possible to find the use recommended device presented when the peripheral device attempted to be communicated from the tablet 70 is in an unusable state and switch a use destination to another peripheral device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a waiting time of a customer. Since it can be found which peripheral device is a switching destination, it is possible to easily guide the customer to the position of the peripheral device.
It can be selected in advance whether the first peripheral device will be a peripheral device close to the tablet 70 or a peripheral device designated to be preferentially used. Accordingly, it is possible to use an appropriate peripheral device corresponding to a situation of the customer or the store.
If the first peripheral device is the peripheral device close to the tablet 70, the waiting time of the customer can be reduced. Time for guiding the customer to another position or time for the customer moving to the position can be saved.
If the first peripheral device is the peripheral device desired to be preferentially used, a peripheral device in a predetermined position can be used first. Therefore, the customer is not guided to a position unexpected by the customer. It is less likely to confuse the customer.
The checkout system and the portable POS terminal used in this system according to the embodiment that can reduce a waiting time of a customer if a peripheral device that the portable POS terminal attempts to communicate with is in an unusable state are explained above. Such an embodiment is not limited to this.
For example, in the embodiment, the position measurement tag 80 is attached to each of the peripheral devices and a position coordinate is periodically measured. However, the measurement of a position coordinate may be unnecessary for a peripheral device used in a substantially fixed position. In other words, a position coordinate may be measured at a setting time of the peripheral device and stored and the stored position coordinate may be repeatedly used.
If displaying the guidance screen in Act 748, the tablet 70 may emit alarm sound with the speaker 77 to call attention.
If the general-purpose tablet terminal functioning as the tablet 70 includes a microphone, the tablet 70 may be configured to be able to perform selection and instruction by voice without depending on the touch.
The portable POS terminal is not limited to the tablet PC and may be a notebook PC. The portable POS terminal may be a hand-held type POS terminal. However, the portable POS terminal may be a POS terminal of any form and shape so long as the portable POS terminal is a POS terminal that can be moved by or with a user by, for example, being carried by the user, attached to the user, or attached to a cart or the like moving with the user or any POS terminal that is not fixed but can be moved about in a store.
In the embodiment, a portable POS terminal and a checkout system are explained as examples. However, embodiments can also be applicable to other devices and systems.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A wireless checkout system, comprising:
- a store region having one or more base stations having a wireless communication range covering the store region;
- a plurality of card settlement terminals located in the store region;
- a server that stores location information indicating a position coordinate of each of the card settlement terminals in the store region; and
- a handheld point-of-sale (POS) terminal including: a wireless communication interface configured to receive a wireless signal from at least one of the one or more base stations; a display; and a processor configured to: set one of the plurality of card settlement terminals as an associated card settlement terminal to be communicated with by the handheld POS terminal for settlement; determine a position coordinate of the handheld POS terminal based on the wireless signal received by the wireless communication interface; obtain the location information from the server; select, based on the position coordinate of the handheld POS terminal and the location information, a closest one of the plurality of card settlement terminals that is closest to the handheld POS terminal, other than the associated card settlement terminal, to be an alternative card settlement terminal to be recommended for settlement; determine whether or not the settlement is properly executed by the associated card settlement terminal based on a response signal from the associated card settlement terminal; control the display to display a screen indicating the alternative card settlement terminal, when determining that the settlement is not properly executed by the associated card settlement terminal; and cause the alternative card settlement terminal to execute the settlement upon a user operation to use the alternative card settlement terminal on the screen.
3. The wireless checkout system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of card settlement terminals is configured to determine its position coordinate based on a wireless signal from at least one of the one or more base stations and transmit its position coordinate to the server.
4. The wireless checkout system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of card settlement terminals is configured to transmit a signal wave to the one or more base stations, and the position coordinate of each of the plurality of card settlement terminals is determined based on an incident angle and an arrival time of the signal wave received by the one or more base stations.
5. The wireless checkout system according to claim 2, wherein the screen also indicates the associated card settlement terminal.
6. The wireless checkout system according to claim 2, wherein the screen includes a selectable object for selecting one of the plurality of card settlement terminals to be used for the settlement.
7. The wireless checkout system according to claim 2, wherein the screen includes a selectable object corresponding to the alternative card settlement terminal for selecting use of the alternative card settlement terminal for settlement and a non-selectable object corresponding to the associated card settlement terminal.
8. The wireless checkout system according to claim 7, wherein
- the selectable object corresponding to the alternative card settlement terminal has a predetermined shape and is displayed in a first display manner, and
- the screen includes one or more second selectable objects corresponding to card settlement terminals that are not closest to the handheld POS terminal, the second selectable objects having the predetermined shape and being displayed in a second display manner different from the first display manner.
9. The wireless checkout system according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to control the display to display a screen for selecting one of the plurality of card settlement terminals as the associated card settlement terminal.
10. The wireless checkout system according to claim 2, wherein the handheld POS terminal further includes an optical code reader configured to read a product code.
11. A method for a mobile point-of-sale terminal for a wireless checkout system including a store region having one or more base stations having a wireless communication range covering the store region, a plurality of card settlement terminals located in the store region, and a server that stores location information indicating a position coordinate of each of the card settlement terminals in the store region, the method comprising:
- designating one of the plurality of card settlement terminals as an associated card settlement terminal to be communicated with for settlement by the handheld POS terminal;
- determining a position coordinate of the handheld POS terminal based on a wireless signal received from at least one of the one or more base stations by the wireless communication interface;
- obtaining the location information from the server;
- selecting based on the position coordinate of the handheld POS terminal and the location information, one of the plurality of card settlement terminals that is closest to the handheld POS terminal, other than the associated card settlement terminal, to be an alternative card settlement terminal to be recommended for settlement;
- determining whether or not the settlement is properly executed by the associated card settlement terminal based on a response signal from the associated card settlement terminal;
- displaying a screen indicating the alternative card settlement terminal on a display of the handheld POS terminal, when determining that the settlement is not properly executed by the associated card settlement terminal; and
- causing the alternative card settlement terminal to execute the settlement upon a user operation to use the alternative card settlement terminal on the screen.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of card settlement terminal determines its own position coordinate based on a wireless signal from at least one of the one or more base stations, and transmits its determined position coordinate.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
- transmitting a signal wave from each of the plurality of card settlement terminals to the one or more base stations; and
- determining the position coordinate of each of the plurality of card settlement terminals based on an incident angle and an arrival time of the signal wave received by the one or more base stations.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the screen indicates also the associated card settlement terminal.
15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the screen includes a selectable object to select one of the plurality of card settlement terminals to be used for the check out.
16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the screen includes a selectable object corresponding to the alternative card settlement terminal for selecting use of the alternative card settlement terminal for settlement and a non-selectable object corresponding to the associated card settlement terminal.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein
- the selectable object corresponding to the alternative card settlement terminal has a predetermined shape and is displayed in a first display manner, and
- the screen includes one or more second selectable objects corresponding to other card settlement terminals that are not the closest to the handheld POS terminal, the second selectable objects having the predetermined shape and being displayed in a second display manner different from the first display manner.
18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
- displaying a screen for selecting one of the plurality of card settlement terminals as the associated card settlement terminal on the display of the handheld POS terminal.
19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
- reading a product code with an optical code reader of the handheld POS terminal.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 7, 2022
Publication Date: Jul 21, 2022
Patent Grant number: 11715081
Inventor: Osamu TSUCHIYA (Mishima Shizuoka)
Application Number: 17/715,688